Verubecestat (MK-8931) was an experimental drug for the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
.
It is an
inhibitor
Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to:
In biology
* Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity
* Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotra ...
of
beta-secretase 1 (BACE1),
which, after initial promise proved disappointing.
In April 2012 phase I clinical results were announced.
Phase 1b results have also been reported.
[
it was in two phase 2/3 clinical trials that have progressed to phase 3.][ However, in February 2017 Merck halted its late-stage trial of verubecestat for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease after it was reported as having "virtually no chance of finding a positive clinical effect" according to an independent panel of experts. The results of Merck's trial of verubecestat on patients with prodromal (early stage) Alzheimer's were expected in February 2019. However, the trial was terminated in February 2018, after a data monitoring committee concluded it was unlikely that the drug would show a positive benefit/risk ratio. The final conclusion was that "verubecestat did not reduce cognitive or functional decline in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and was associated with treatment-related adverse events". Verubecestat was projected to be a breakthrough medicine for dementia related illness, however it is still unknown why the medicine was not effective in humans. ]
References
{{Anti-dementia drugs
Fluoroarenes
Carboxamides
Enzyme inhibitors
Alzheimer's disease research